2019 has just started and this is our first “deals of the week” post. I went through the current deals on our partners’ websites and selected the top offers currently available, which I think could be interesting for you.
Please note that some of those deals are limited in time!
The B&H offers listed are for our readers based in North and South America and CVP’s offers are for our readers based in Europe. By shopping at our affiliate partners’ stores you are supporting cinema5D through our buy links, as we get a small affiliate commission when a purchase is completed.
B&H: Litepanels Astra Bi-Focus Daylight LED Panel – Now $949 ($547 savings)
When it comes to LED lights, there is little need to introduce Litepanels. If pricing was your obstacle for getting this daylight panel, then I’m sure that the reduced cost can help with biting the bullet. By The Way, if your preferred option is a Bi Color LED panel, then the Litepanels Astra 3X Bi-Color LED Panel is also on a special deal now for $764.95 instead of $1,045 ($280.05 savings)
B&H: Spekular Travel Kit – Now $486 ($211 savings)
Speaking of light and innovation, I hope you heard about Spekular. This young company signed modularity on its flag and as such, it is simply amazing what you can do and achieve when working with their kit (Read Graham’s review by clicking here). It is worth mentioning that their 2 other sets are now on special sale too. The Interview Kit is being sold for $417 ($181 savings) and the Full Star Kit is being sold for $866 ($231 savings)
B&H: Core SWX HyperCore 98 Gold Mount Battery – Now $234 ($88 savings)
Core SWX managed to position itself as a reputable company which produces quality products and the HyperCore 98 battery is no exception. It is powerful, accurate (the display shows exactly how much is left down to a minute and the D-tap on the battery helps a ton). Oh and when you are stuck with a power drained mobile phone, the built-in USB for charging cells might come to the rescue.
B&H: FUJIFILM X-T2 Mirrorless Camera Body with Hand Grip Kit – Now $1,099 ($629.99 savings)
True, the FUJIFILM X-T2 is an ageing camera, yet for some customers, in that price point, it might prove to be the perfect companion. Read my full original X-T2 review and see the short documentary I shot by clicking here. AND the camera got a significant firmware update during May 2018. It brought F-Log and high frame recording (120fps in Full HD). See my re-evaluation of the camera after installing the new firmware update by clicking here. As a side note, if you are new to FUJIFILM and looking for purchasing the X-T2 with its 18-55mm kit lens, then this combination is now on special sale too.
B&H: FUJIFILM X-H1 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body with Battery Grip Kit – Now $1,299.95 ($329.99 savings)
Moving one step up in the FUJIFILM APS-C camera line and the X-H1 can be proved to be an an excellent purchasing choice. Its main advantage over the other offerings from FUJIFILM is the built-in body stabilisation system. (Read my full review and see some sample footage by clicking here). It is worth mentioning that the camera just got a new firmware update which allows continuous recording in order to overcome the 4GB single video file limitation.
B&H: FUJIFILM X-T3 Mirrorless Camera with 18-55mm Lens – Now $1,699 ($200 savings)
It’s not for nothing that we chose the FUJIFILM as the camera of the year 2018. (See our article by clicking here). This one is simply a very enjoyable and capable working tool for both, photographers and filmmakers. FUJIFILM did a marvellous job (and a huge jump forward) by introducing this little gem. (See my camera review and sample footage by clicking here).
The X-T3’s only noticeable obstacle is the absence of internal body stabilisation so in order to somehow compensate on it, this particular offering might appeal for many. Equipped with the 18-55mm kit lens, it can become a nice “All-round Street Camera”. If you already own some more advanced FUJIFILM lenses and are looking into upgrading your camera to the X-T3, then this “body only” special offer will save you $100.
CVP our European partner together with Sony and Panasonic now offer “Cash Back” on selected Sony and Panasonic products
CVP: SONY A6500 – price after cash back ex VAT: €901.21 (Original price: €1,177.38)
If you are after a very small yet capable filming option, then look no further. The Sony A6500 might be the right tool for you. See my review and video sample by clicking here.
CVP: SONY 18-110mm f/4 – price after cash back ex VAT: €2,654.85 (Original price: €2,977.05)
Back in 2017 we reviewed the Sony 18-110mm f/4 lens and our conclusion was very favourable. If you take in account what this lens can do, its size, focal length and modest price, if documentary shooting is your style or you are a news shooter, then this offering might appeal to you. Mind you that the lens minimum focus distance or “fly by wire” zoom function is not ideal so please test before deciding if it is the right tool for you.
CVP: PANASONIC GH5S – price after cash back ex VAT: €1,579.29 (Original price: €1,809.43)
Panasonic is known to be listening to its potential customers so bringing the GH5S to the market was no surprise. If you are looking for a very capable camera which beside its high data rate and 10bit internal recording boosts an improved lowlight capability, then this camera is absolutely a valid option. Mind you that unlike with the GH5, this model does not have an internal body stabilisation system. (See my review and sample footage from the camera by clicking here and Nino’s Lowlight comparison to the original GH5 by clicking here).
Did you like this week’s deals? Did you pick something to extend your arsenal, or are your funds still depleted from end of the year spendings? Let us know in the comments!

Following up our first GH5 cage review shootout with Came-TV, Movcam and Zacuto, here comes the second round featuring two more cages – by Chrosziel and Tilta. We have kept the same review structure, now let’s see how these cages perform, compared to each other and to the cages from the first shootout.
To use the full potential of any camera, it is crucial to find the right cage in order to mount whatever third-party accessories you may need. And cages don’t just add several mounting threads and cold shoes, they also improve the protection of the camera body, usually add better grips and handles, and protect the HDMI connector and other ports.
The first round of our GH5 cage shootout with Came-TV, Movcam and Zacuto was published more than a year ago. The Panasonic GH5 remains a very popular camera until today and it still sits on top of the line of the Panasonic mirrorless segment, together with the GH5S. Since the newer GH5S shares the same body as the GH5, every cage can of course be used for both cameras.
Now, we had some further cages available for a review and decided to do a second round of the shootout. We’ll now place two camera cages for the Panasonic GH5 (and GH5S) head to head for an in-depth look, review and comparison: Chrosziel and Tilta. Let’s see how they perform and which one comes out better in this GH5 cage shootout!
Structure of Each Review:
Ease of assembly and disassembly
How securely is the camera attached to the cage?
HDMI cable protector design
Do we have access to the side outputs, slots and all the buttons?
Is it possible to use the Panasonic XLR adapter?
How good is the included Rod Support?
Quality of the Metabones Mount
The top-handle design
Overall ergonomics
Conclusion
At the very end of the article I’ll summarize the main pros and cons of each cage and announce our verdict. Please note that no cage is perfect and it’s up to each user to decide which cage better fits their needs and preferences.
Chrosziel GH5 Cage
The Chrosziel GH5 cage features a simple black aluminum design with a massive, but ergonomic handle and an included base plate rod mount. There are exceptionally many 3/8″ accessory threads. How well did the cage perform?
Ease of Assembly and Disassembly
It is quite easy to assemble and disassemble this setup. The cage is easily screwed on, with one screw at the bottom that goes into the camera’s tripod screw hole. The cage itself has a rather big opening for the lens, so even inserting the GH5 with a bigger lens mounted should not be a problem.
How Securely is the Camera Attached to the Cage?
In my opinion, the camera doesn’t seem to be very well secured. The cage doesn’t fit the sides of the camera very tightly and a single bottom screw is the only thing holding it in position. If not tightened properly, the camera has a bit of a wiggle room within the cage. The cage has quite a close fit to the front side under the lens mount, so if the camera does turn, it would be just a few millimetres. Attachment is not optimal, though.
HDMI Cable Protector Design
The Chrosziel GH5 cage does not provide any kind of HDMI protection. The plastic HDMI protector that comes with the GH5 can be screwed on there, but it only provides limited use with this cage, because the plastic clamp that holds the HDMI cable is too close to the side of the cage. Therefore, it might be nearly impossible to mount an HDMI cable with this clamp on this cage.
Do we Have Access to the Side Outputs, Slots and All the Buttons?
With this cage, we have good access to all the slots, buttons and outputs of the Panasonic GH5. It is not a problem to use the flip-out LCD screen either and rotate it freely.
Is it Possible to use the Panasonic XLR Adapter?
It is only possible to mount the Panasonic XLR adapter when the handle is not mounted on top of the cage. Fortunately, the cage has other mounting points for the handle on both sides. The plastic cable holder underneath the XLR unit has to be removed when mounting it.
How good is the included rod support?
The included 15mm rod support is quite simple, but good overall. There are two 8″ rods included in the package, which are made of aluminum.
Metabones Mount Quality
Unfortunately, there is no Metabones adapter support included with the cage.
The Top-Handle Design
I like the top handle design and ergonomics, I just wish there were more threads and mounting possibilities. It is a massive, all-aluminum handle with 6 threads on the top, which is quite comfortable to hold. There is, unfortunately, no cold shoe on top. It is possible to unscrew the bolt holding the handle and rotate it to 4 different positions. Good thing is, there is a 15mm rod mounting place on the handle.
Note: Additional handles can be purchased and used in a variety of ways. They can be mounted either on the “mini NATO rails” on top or on both sides of the cage – or anywhere on a 15mm rod. Quite a nice addition to make it a flexible system that a lot of other manufacturers didn’t think about.
Overall Ergonomics
The cage features no cold shoes, which might be a bit of a downside for some users. On the other hand, apart from standard 1/4″ threads, it offers many 3/8″ accessory threads. That might be useful when mounting heavier accessories, for instance. The cage doesn’t fit too tightly, which might make it a bit uncomfortable to hold the camera with the right hand, when the cage is mounted. The bottom of the cage itself has the same dimensions as the Manfrotto 501 standard plate, so theoretically, it could also be used without any plate (it is quite short though, so only during emergency uses).
Conclusion
The Chrosziel GH5 cage features a simple and massive design with a few small flaws. It is not very suitable for people looking for a tightly fitted solution. However, it is suitable for a frequent mounting and removing of the camera. Also, it is possible to keep the neck strap mounts on the camera when using this cage and people who occasionally use their GH5 for photo work (like me) will definitely appreciate this. I like the possibility of mounting the handles on both sides and on the 15mm rods too. The lack of cold shoes and HDMI protection is a downside for me.
Tilta GH5 CageTilta GH5 cage is made out of aluminum and features a matte gray design, plus a massive wooden side handle. It includes a base plate rod mount, and there are exceptionally many 1/4″ and 3/8″ accessory threads, as well as three cold shoes. How well did the cage perform?
Ease of Assembly and Disassembly
This setup is quite easy to assemble and disassemble – Tilta has developed a unique system, which consists of a separate quick release plate. The plate is simply screwed on, with one screw at the bottom, to the camera’s tripod screw hole. Then, the camera plus the plate can be inserted into the cage and locked in place with a lever. The cage itself also has quite a big opening for the lens, so inserting the GH5 with a bigger lens mounted should not be a problem.
How secure is the camera when attached to the cage?
The camera is well secured within the cage – no problems here. The quick release plate mounted onto the camera holds it well in position.
HDMI cable protector design
Tilta offers a unique HDMI cable protector design, which consists of two aluminum clamps and a piece of male-female HDMI cable. It locks the HDMI connection well in place, although the first assembly might require a bit of time. When using the HDMI protector, the other ports on the side still remain accessible. The USB-C connector, however, does get bent a bit when the HDMI clamp is tightened. In my opinion, the short HDMI cable is a bit too squashed and bent, which might lead to it getting damaged over time and cause some connection problems.
Do we Have Access to the Side Outputs, Slots and all the Buttons?
When this cage is attached, we have good access to all the slots, buttons and outputs of the Panasonic GH5. It is not a problem to use the flip-out LCD screen either and rotate it freely (without the HDMI clamp in use).
Is it Possible to use the Panasonic XLR Adapter?
It is possible to mount the Panasonic XLR adapter, even when the top handle is in its position. Tilta offers an L-shaped adapter, which positions the top handle out of the way of the XLR adapter. The plastic cable holder underneath the XLR unit has to be removed when mounting it.
How Good is the Included Rod Support?
The included aluminum 15mm rod support is quite well made. The cage slides in from the side, which is a bit unusual, yet the advantage of this system is that the cage can be moved left or right, when needed. A small lever on the rod support piece then locks it in the right position. There are two rods included in the package.
Metabones Mount Quality
There is a Metabones adapter support included on the cage itself, but to be honest, I am not too fond of its design. The screw used for this is quite long and it prevents the mounting or unmounting of the rod support, when the rods are in place. Although I found out it is possible to use it without the long screw just with the metal tube. The question is, however, how well the support functions then.
The Top-Handle Design
There are lots of threaded mounting options and cold shoes at the end of the handle. Also, it is possible to unscrew the bolt holding the handle and rotate it in 4 different positions. As a bonus, there is a separate aluminum clamp provided, which can be inserted into the handle, tightened with two bolts, offering an extra 15mm rod mount.
Overall, I like the top handle design and its ergonomics, plus it is relatively long. The top handle is connected to the cage via NATO rail, so it can be moved left or right and then fixed in place with a dovetail screw. The NATO rail itself can be mounted either directly to cage, or onto an extra L-shaped piece to make place for the XLR adapter. Furthermore, there are safety knobs with springs on both sides of the NATO rail, so the handle will not fall off, even if it the screw loosens by accident.
Overall Ergonomics
Visually, the main part of Tilta GH5 cage is the massive wooden grip on the right side. It has a nicely ergonomic shape and even features a start/stop thumb button, which connects via shutter connector to the camera. The handle can be rotated, as it is connected to the cage through a rossette.
The cage itself is not a tightly fitted one, so holding the cage with your hand might not be so comfortable, yet the provided wooden grip offers a comfortable holding option. Thanks to the quick release plate, it is very easy to take the camera out of the cage when you quickly need to switch to the bare-body photo setup.
For me, the biggest flaw of Tilta’s cage is the fact that it cannot be used without the rod support base, at all. There is, unfortunately, no way to attach a tripod plate directly to the bottom of the cage. Therefore, this cage cannot be used during a very compact setup and the rod support base always positions the camera quite high, too.
Another slight disadvantage I found is the fact that Tilta uses three different allen key sizes for the cage. All of the allen keys needed for assembly are included in the package, but one of them comes as a non-metric size – a 3/16 wrench (also used for the main screw on the quick release plate). In case you lose that key, it is not a very common thing to have as a spare one at home – at least not in Europe. I think using two different allen key sizes for all the bolts on the cage would have been simpler.
Conclusion
The Tilta GH5 cage features quite a sophisticated design with lots and lots of accessories. It cannot be used for a rather compact setup and is not really suitable for people looking for a tight fit solution. The cage is great when it comes to frequently mounting and removing the camera. Also, it is possible to keep the neck strap mounts on the camera when using it, and people who occasionally use their GH5 for a photo work (like me) will definitely appreciate this. I liked the wooden grip with the start/stop button and the long top handle, too.
Chrosziel vs. Tilta GH5 Cages – Results
For me personally, Tilta GH5 cage is the winner of this comparison review, despite being the cheaper option of both. The main advantages of this cage are: lots of accessories and mounting options, comfortable wooden grip, effective HDMI protector, modular and long top handle, and quick release plate for easy mounting/unmounting of the camera. Main disadvantages: It is not possible to use the cage without the rod support base.
The second place goes to the Chrosziel GH5 cage. The main advantages are: massive top handle design, which can be moved on the mini rails on both sides, massive design with many 3/8″ threads and Manfrotto 501 style plate on the bottom of the cage. Main disadvantages: relatively high price, no HDMI support included, no possibility to mount an XLR adapter while the top handle is mounted.
If I have to compare these two cages to the three cages from the first shootout, I have to admit that I still like the Movcam GH5 cage the best and it suits my needs better than all of the four other cages. Tilta comes close as the second place, because it offers the most mounting threads and possibilities. It cannot be used without the rod support base, however, and I often need a compact cage setup. On the third place, I would place the Zacuto tight fit cage, the fourth place would go to Chrosziel and fifth place to the Came-TV cage. It – of course – depends on the exact needs of every filmmaker, though.
Did you ever use any of these GH5 cages and did you like it? Did this second round of shootout help you make up your mind about your future GH5 cage purchase? Let us know in the comments below!

Panasonic issued new firmware updates for its popular GH5, GH5s and G9 cameras today. The updates are supposed to fix some minor issues in the current firmware and improve the autofocus performance on all three cameras, which have been criticized for their AF performance being somewhat behind on the competition. Panasonic has been eagerly pushing firmware updates to the cameras since their release, this marking the sixth version of the GH5’s firmware. Here’s what you need to know.
Upon the release of the GH5 and later the GH5s its continuous autofocus performance in video was met with less than enthusiastic reactions by many shooters – see our own video test of the GH5s autofocus capabilities by clicking here. This was probably due to Panasonic’s claims prior to release that the camera’s performance in that sector was massively improved. What followed was something of a divide, with some of the camera’s users claiming the autofocus was just lacking (after all it does use contrast detection, while most cameras considered to have good autofocus in video mode use phase detection) and others saying it was mostly misunderstood, yet completely workable if used in the right way. The G9 mostly seemed to share the exact same issues, having the same autofocusing system as the GH5 and GH5s.
The workarounds mostly consisted of focus area or point selection instead of using the full focus area and/or just letting the camera track a subject. The problem observed by shooters was a common one in a contrast based AF system, namely back focusing and hunting while tracking a subject. Now Panasonic claims to have improved just that problem in this firmware update. Both the detection of the actual subject in frame, as well as the automatic focus area selection (to keep it on the subject) seem to have been improved by further tweaking the algorithms. This should also prevent the dreaded backfocusing issues.
Side-by-side AF test of GH5s with Firmware 1.1 and 1.2
We already tested the new firmware release and decided to put two GH5s bodies with the exact same lens and settings, but two different firmware versions 1.1 and 1.2 next to each other, testing the performance.
We are not exaggerating when we say that we were mightily impressed with the results. Somehow Panasonic managed to make the autofocus really significantly better, even though we are working with a contrast-based system here. It accurately recognized Nino’s face many times during the test while the old version completely failed. It’s noteworthy that the AF mode with the 225 AF points is the one we used for the test and that’s what’s so massively improved.
Huge improved AF performance on our side-by-side test with the new firmware on the GH5s.
We shot an interview with Panasonic at Photokina recently where we talked about the firmware update as well as their lens announcemend. You can read all about it here and watch the video below.
There were also some bugs in the current firmware addressed by this update. Here’s an overview:
Updates to the GH5 (firmware 2.4)
Improvement of tracking performance and minimizing of backfocusing in continuous AF mode with 225 AF points
Fix of a One-Push-AE bug in Creative M mode, when SS/Gain-Operation is set to Angle/ISO
Fix of bug that sometimes caused timecode to be reset upon battery change
Fix of a bug that caused showing all footage, instead of just the intended frame in 6k/4k Photo mode
Updates to the GH5S (firmware 1.2):
Improvement of tracking performance and minimizing of backfocusing in continuous AF mode with 225 AF points
Fix of a bug that caused the camera to not react appropriately to brightness changes under fluorescent light
Fix of a One-Push-AE bug in Creative M mode, when SS/Gain-Operation is set to Angle/ISO
Improvement of image quality when using V-Log for VFR recording in Creative Mode
Improvement of image quality when using the Intelligent Dynamic Range Control feature
Updates to the G9 (firmware 1.2):
Improvement of tracking performance and minimizing of backfocusing in continuous AF mode with 225 AF points
Fix of a bug that caused the camera to not react appropriately to brightness changes under fluorescent light
The updates are available now and can be downloaded here:
GH5 firmware 2.4GH5S firmware 1.2G9 firmware 1.2
Are you happy with this update, in case you are a GH5 / GH5s or G9 owner? Will you test the improvement? Or do you want to share the results of your test with us? Let us know in the comments!

Panasonic have not only announced their new full frame mirrorless cameras – the LUMIX S line – they also announced interesting news for the micro four thirds community: Firstly, there will be a new Panasonic firmware update for the GH5 and GH5S, which will improve the continuous autofocus function (AFC). Secondly, the company has announced the development of a new fast wide zoom lens – the Panasonic Leica 10-25mm f/1.7.
Panasonic Firmware Update for the GH5 (v.2.4) and GH5S (v.1.2)
Both announced firmware updates are about to be released in late October 2018. We will post the link to the update as it becomes available.
The most significant part of the update, which applies to both the GH5 and GH5S, is the improvement of autofocus (AF) performance. With the previous firmware, there were cases where the focus point was shifted to the background while tracking the subject in AFC mode. The new firmware minimizes this problem. Tracking performance in continuous AF has been improved by optimizing the tracking algorithm. Now, the subject will be tracked even when actively moving, for example in sports scenes, where the focus previously shifted to the background.
The second important improvement for both, the GH5 and GH5S fixes a bug in video recording operation. The one push AE (exposure setting) failed to operate when the shutter speed/gain was set to angle/ISO while shooting in Creative Video M mode. This bug has been fixed and one push AE works now.
Improvements for the GH5S only:
Operating stability during variable frame rate (VFR) recording via HDMI output has been improved.
Improvements of video recording performance – the image quality when using V-log for VFR recording in creative video mode has been improved. Also, the image quality when set to i.Dynamic (intelligent dynamic range control) has been improved.
Improvement of operation under specific lighting conditions (fluorescent lights, etc.) – there were cases where the camera did not catch up with the change in brightness smoothly under specific lighting conditions such as fluorescent lights. This problem is now minimized with the new firmware.
Panasonic Leica 10-25mm f/1.7 MFT Lens
In the shade of the announcement of the LUMIX S series full frame mirrorless cameras, these news might seem a little forgotten. Panasonic, however, did not forget their large micro four thirds customer base. They announced the development of a new lens in cooperation with Leica – the fastest zoom lens in the Panasonic portfolio – the Panasonic Leica 10-25mm f/1.7 (full frame equivalent of 20-50mm).
This lens should feature superb image quality, which we know from existing Panasonic Leica lenses (like the Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 or the 25mm f/1.4 MFT lens). In the words of Panasonic: It should replace five fast prime lenses. That is how much they believe in the image quality of the lens.
Now, the news from Panasonic were just a development announcement. As you can see in our video interview, Panasonic only displayed a 3D-printed mockup lens here at Photokina. We have been informed that we should not expect the lens to come in the early 2019. Panasonic might have more info about the lens during next Photokina, which will be in May 2019.
What do you think of the new firmware updates or the new fast zoom lens from Panasonic? Did you experience any of the bugs, which the new firmware fixes? Are you planning to invest in the lens? Let us know in the comments below.

CAME Terapin from CAME-TV is an attempt to create an “all inclusive smart rig” for Panasonic GH4, GH5, GH5s or the Sony a7 family of cameras, with a vision in mind to enhance usability and handling for any of those mentioned cameras. Sounds interesting? Keep on reading, as I truly think that this fine product has the potential to shake things up in our DSLR and mirrorless camera market.
CAME-TV Terapin rig
CAME-TV was kind enough to send us their latest creation, the Terapin rig. The idea of having a device (smart rig) that can act as a unit to enhance the usability and functionality of a DSLR or mirrorless camera is not new. Personally, I was having fun experimenting years ago, with how to bring my DSLR camera to sit comfortably on my shoulder, in a way that will resemble the usage of a traditional ENG camera – but since then I kind of gave up on the idea and went the other way, minimizing my kit. Commercially speaking, others have tried it too. Out of my sleeve I can think of Pandora and RNG, but if I’m not mistaken, they and other companies had only a limited success, possibly due to different reasons. (Pricing, odd look, not living up to usability expectations, or simply lack of marketing resources). What ever the reason is, CAME-TV identified a certain need and decided to explore this kind of uncharted “smart rig” market by introducing their Terapin rig.
CAME-TV Terapin rig on the shoulder
Who is this rig for?
I can clearly see two types of users who might be interested in using such a rig. Those who find themselves on a set working with a DSLR or mirrorless camera and fearing the reaction of their client, when appearing with such a small filming device. And those who are looking to enhance the connectivity of their camera by transforming the consumer type connectors, like HDMI and audio mini plug inputs/output, into something more professional and robust like SDI and XLR.
CAME-TV Terapin rig and the Panasonic GH5s – Perfect match
The GH5s swivel LCD allows monitoring and menu navigation
Unboxing
I have to admit that after opening the box and taking the Terapin rig out, I was quit surprised to see how small, lightweight and actually good looking the rig is. No matter if you choose to get the Panasonic or Sony Terapin rig, both will come with almost everything you need in order to start working with it immediately.
Here is the list of accessories that comes with the rig:
Monitor or EVF arm (Already connected to the rig)
Rods
Microphone clamp
2 mini jack audio cables
DC cable
Dummy battery (If you intend on using the rig with the newer generation of Sony cameras, like the a7 III, you will have to buy that accessory separately)
Handle (To remotely control the camera record button)
HDMI A-A cable
HDMI A-D cable
HDMI “L” shape connector
Terapin rig assembled – “Compact mode”
Assembling the rig:
Assembling the rig is very much straight forward! In the above video I used the Panasonic GH5S camera over the Sony a7 III, mostly because of the former having a swivelled LCD screen. This allowed me to continue using the touch screen and more importantly, comfortably use the camera menu whenever needed. To adjust the position of the camera on the rig or a matte box, you don’t need any tools as it is completely tool-less. The only time you’ll ever need to use anything will be when tightening the camera to the rig itself. Last but not least, in order to enjoy the full functionality of the rig, don’t forget to connect the supplied handle to the camera itself. (In case you are using a Panasonic camera, connect it to the “remote” socket. For the Sony, I’m still awaiting an answer from CAME-TV in regards to how exactly it should be done and I’ll update this article according to their answer).
UPDATE: For connecting a Sony a7X camera to the supplied Terapin handle and remote control, please do the following:
Sony a7 III and the supplied Terapin rig Sony handle. Remote is located on the handle itself
In the Sony camera menu go to “Setup” (The briefcase symbol) and look for “Remote Ctrl”. Turn this feature “On”. On the Terapin rig, turn on the remote located on the supplied handle.
On the Sony a7X camera, turn Remote Ctrl “On”
There are a few of things to note: Most noticeably is the absent of 4K signal output from the built in SDI connector. This is a bit of a let down and I can only hope that CAME-TV will consider improving it on the next revision of their rig. (Current signal output is limited to up to 1080/50). Then, the supplied DC cable will fit Atomos monitors but NOT Blackmagic, for example, so a solution for that must be improvised. Also, the supplied handle will not tighten well enough on the metal rod (metal on metal), so just insert a piece of rubber in order to avoid loose contact. After connecting the camera headphones output to the rig input, adjust the headphones volume in the camera to “max” while having the volume knob on the rig turned all the way to the right. This way, your new monitoring volume will be “in sync” with the camera. If no images appear on the camera LCD screen it can be that the camera’s “eye sensor” is turned on. Switch it off or assign the function “LCD monitor viewing only” in the menu.
Straight forward connectivity
Rig handle is connected to a Panasonic GH5s camera remote socket
Usability and Conclusion:
I really enjoyed using the new CAME-TV Terapin rig. Connectivity is very much straight forward and the rig itself feels comfortable on the shoulder (As long as you don’t use a large heavy lens in the front). The Terapin rig is also responsible for adding a phantom power XLR connection and SDI output to the consumer input/outputs of the Sony a7 family of cameras and Panasonic GH 4, 5 and 5s, transforming them to be a more professional friendly devices. Speaking of the Panasonic GH5(S), the camera looks great on it and more importantly, those two (Camera and rig) fit together like a hand to a glove. (I’m less convinced about using any Sony camera with this rig, as by doing so, one will be eliminating the possibility of using of the camera LCD screen). For $558 you get “a lot of rig” and the list of the enclosed accessories is very useful!
Mind you that in some occasions, when an additional “power hungry” accessory is connected to the rig (Atomos Shogun Inferno for example), the Sony NP-F type battery might not have enough juice to power them both (Camera and monitor). CAME-TV is planning on selling a NP-F to V-mount battery convertor as an additional accessory and I hope that this will help eliminate the issue, by being able to connect a stronger battery at the back of the rig. I also hope that CAME-TV will consider adding an additional XLR input and an HDMI connector next to the SDI to their next generation of rigs, as this will contribute to even greater flexibility and usability.
Music used in the above review is taken from Art-list Music theme: Me and You by Oliver Michael
Do you use a rig for your daily shooting routine or do you prefer having your camera “naked”. Also, does a “smart” rig – like the one CAME-TV presents – appear as interesting for you to explore? Share with us your thoughts in the comment section below.

The new firmware update for Panasonic LUMIX cameras has just been released. It addresses the Panasonic GH5, GH5S and G9, and improves autofocus, sound quality and adds more features.
This firmware update – which is available now and is free (download links below) – deals with autofocus performance, adds new monochrome photo styles and upgrades sound quality for video recording.
As a GH5 owner I welcome this new firmware greatly as that camera’s autofocus (AF) performance is considered – by many users – to be quite poor. Although I mostly do not use the AF with the GH5, in some situations (like gimbal filming or vlogging) a good AF can help a lot. I am very curious about how significant the improvement is.
Panasonic LUMIX DC-GH5 Firmware 2.3
New firmware version 2.3 (download link and full details can be found here) adds or improves following features:
Improved AF performance – increased tracking AF performance. Allowing users to follow their subject while recording movies.
Improvement of Body I.S.(Image Stabilizer) performance
• There were cases where peripheral distortion occurred in video recording while walking when used with Panasonic wide zoom lenses (H-F007014, H-E08018). This bug has been fixed.
L. Monochrome D & Grain effect – The new L. Monochrome D photo style captures darker tones and greater contrast. Grain effects are available in different strengths for all monochrome settings.
Live View Boost – viewfinder screen and LCD monitor can be displayed brighter than the image recorded. This allows users to check the composition in low-light environments and helps to frame the shot.
MF Assist – more accurate manual focusing for photos and videos. Magnification goes up to 20x in MF Assist mode.
Night Mode – camera screen displays all information in red to not be disturbing for night use.
Like 709 & V-LogL improvements – Like 709, V-LogL and V-LogL View Assist in Photo Style can now be used for still photo shooting and time lapse video. [LUT Monitor Display] and [LUT HDMI Display] can be used in playback mode to check the appearance. Note that you still need to have the V-Log update purchased.
Enhanced sound quality – sound quality has been improved by optimising the performance of the internal noise cancelling microphone.
Additional information can be found here.
Night Mode on the Panasonic GH5
Panasonic LUMIX DC-GH5s Firmware 1.1
New firmware version 1.1 (download link and full details can found here) adds or improves following features:
Improved AF performance – the autofocus for lowlight and low-contrast photo shooting has been improved.
L. Monochrome D & Grain effect – The new L. Monochrome D photo style captures darker tones and greater contrast, with grain effects available in different strengths for all monochrome settings.
Enhanced sound quality – sound quality has been improved by optimising the performance of the internal noise cancelling microphone.
Better Control of Video Settings – Vector Scope can be displayed on the screen while adjusting white balance.
Panasonic LUMIX DC-G9 Firmware 1.1
New firmware version 1.1 (download link and full details can be found here) adds or improves following features:
Improved AF performance – increased tracking AF performance. Allowing users to follow their subject while recording movies.
L. Monochrome D & Grain effect – The new L. Monochrome D photo style captures darker tones and greater contrast. Grain effects are available in different strengths for all monochrome settings.
Live View Boost – viewfinder screen and LCD monitor can be displayed brighter than the image recorded. This allows users to check the composition in low-light environments and helps to frame the shot.
MF Assist – more accurate manual focusing for photos and videos. Magnification goes up to 20x in MF Assist mode.
Improved High Resolution Mode – The aperture range of the G9’s high resolution photo mode has been expanded – from F8 to F11 – and the motion correction has been improved.
Enhanced sound quality – sound quality has been improved by optimising the performance of the internal noise cancelling microphone.
I am glad to see that manufacturers like Panasonic listen to their customers and bring firmware updates to fix any issues or weak spots of their products. The GH5, for instance, really went a long way from when it was first launched to the market.
Can you see improvements in your camera performance after installing the new firmware? (Especially AF performance). Share your experience with us in the comment section below.

The Panasonic GH5S has started to ship and one of the most frequent questions we are being asked is: how good is the autofocus? In order to find out, I’ve composed this simple video sample for you guys to judge it for yourself.
Of course, it would have been easy to place my “good face for radio” in front of the camera and jump in and out of the frame to determine the functionality of the autofocus, but why make life easy when if I can complicate things?
Why use autofocus?
In case you are asking yourself why would one choose to shoot in autofocus mode, then the answer is clear. This is a real word shooting scenario, meaning, a low-budget production handled by a single operator using a modestly-priced camera mounted on an affordable handheld gimbal. In such a case, a follow focus puller and his rig are not an option.
Panasonic GH5S
The storyline:
In order to execute this autofocus test I’ve teamed up with the dear people at Bösendorfer, a world leading class Austrian piano manufacturer and Jan Jiracek von Armin who is an extremely busy talented leading pianist and a piano professor. We gathered at the Bösendorfer showroom in order to film a short introduction to their selection of pianos.
Setting up the Panasonic GH5S:
While exploring the camera, I was not so happy with its autofocus performance, but in order to be double cautious, I decided to look online and choose 2 popular videos which successfully demonstrate how to set up the original GH5 for better autofocus performance. The videos I looked at were from Scott McKenna and Nick Stubbs. While Scott and Nick showed completely different methods on how to set up the camera for better autofocus performance, their results were the same: success! It is also worth mentioning that I chose the settings in their videos because I was looking for a way to nail accurate focus at the center of my frame (my protagonist’s face), and those two methods dealt with it in a successful way.
Here are Scott’s and Nick’s settings:
Scott’s Panasonic GH5 setting
Scott’s autofocus settings: AF mode: 1-Area. AF Custom Settings: ON, AF speed +5, AF sensitivity, +1
Nick’s Panasonic GH5 setting
Nick’s autofocus settings: AF mode: Custom Multi, AF Custom Settings: OFF,
My results with the Panasonic GH5S:
Thinking those settings would work well on the GH5S, I experimented and decided to shoot the video above multiple times in both settings. Unlike them, however, my final result was less satisfying. At times, the camera changed its autofocus point with no real evident reason UNLESS some contrasty images in my frame really distracted it from nailing it 100%. Most disturbing is the scene where Jan’s face was fully on-camera, yet the GH5S still chose to focus elsewhere. Can it be that the green emergency sign on the left side of Jan’s face confused the AF system?
Jan’s face in focus
Jan’s face out of focus
Conclusion:
This is by no means meant to be a scientific experiment. It is a simple “true to working life” field test that was executed with camera settings which I hoped would give me good results. While it is fine about 90% of the time, there is absolutely room for improvement. Hopefully it can be done via a firmware update.
Panasonic GH5S
About the above video:
Shot with Panasonic GH5S. Lens: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4. Edited on Adobe Premiere CC latest edition. Color corrected with FilmConvert. Sound recorded on a Tascam DR60d. Microphones used: AZDEN SGM250CX and Sanken COS-11D Mini Lav Mic. Light: Cineroid FL400S Flexible LED panel. Gimbal: Feiyutech a2000. Music: by Art-List Break Out by Oliver Michael – Citadel
Special thanks to Jan Jiracek von Armin and Sabine Grubmueller from Bösendorfer.
If you have been using the Panasonic GH5S in autofocus mode and found useful settings for it, please share it with us in the comment section below.

The FilmConvert GH5S camera profile is out now. It can help with color grading the footage from Panasonic’s new mirrorless camera as well as matching the footage with other cameras.
FilmConvert GH5S camera profile released
Panasonic GH5S (check out our hands-on here) is the new “low light brother” of the popular Panasonic GH5 (here’s our low-light shoot-out video between the two). It does not have In-body image stabilization (IBIS), but it solves one of the weak spots of the GH5: low light sensitivity. It has Dual ISO and much bigger pixels as the image sensor resolution dropped roughly 2x. It is a bit more expensive than the GH5, but it already has the VLog-L logarithmic gamma curve color profile included with the price.
FilmConvert just released the camera profile for the Panasonic GH5S, and is designed to help with color grading all types of picture profiles with the Panasonic GH5S including the VLog-L. The profile is now ready to be downloaded for free from their website.
FilmConvert camera profiles are dedicated data packs that increase the color accuracy for your footage. The data packs work in both the FilmConvert plugins and the standalone grading software. They cannot be loaded directly into the camera, although the software allows export of LUTs with the color settings to use in-camera. Please note that the camera packs need the latest version of FilmConvert plugin for full compatibility.
FilmConvert can either be used as a stand-alone application or as a plugin which is supported by most NLEs. It is designed to help with and speed up the color grading process, and is mainly useful for creatives who don’t have either the skills or time to grade their footage “from scratch”.
To get the FilmConvert GH5S camera profile visit this website, choose the camera model, operating system and localization and click download.
Do you already shoot with the GH5S? Are FilmConvert camera profiles something you use? Let us know in the comments below.